In HEPATOLOGY, March, 2009, they concluded that "dietary nutrient composition may be an important and potentially modifiable determinant in liver disease."
PMID: 19441103
It's true - the fact is that your daily diet and overall lifestyle effect your health, especially if you have Hepatitis C.
Some healthy living tips for those with Hepatitis C ~
1: No alcohol consumption as it has a toxic effect on liver cells, enables the HCV virus to multiply more rapidly and makes you more prone to liver cancer according to studies. Alcohol also counteracts the benefits of treatment in many ways, making any treatment for HCV less effective
2: Try fresh, organic produce, whether store bought or homegrown, as this reduces the chemicals that an already stressed HCV liver will need to process. Avoid environmental pollutants always.
3: A well-nourished body will fight Hepatitis C best. A diet rich in calories and nutrients on a daily basis is critical as is healthy exercise to keep your body functioning well. Make every calorie you consume as nutrient-dense as possible.
4: Try to get at least 30 minutes of exercise each day - whether walking or hiking, jogging or biking. Include some strength training. Yoga is an excellent activity - consisting of mild exercise, stretching and twisting which detoxifies the body, and meditation which relaxes the body and the mind. Exercise rejuvenates the body and spirit.
5: Eat enough protein for your body, drink protein shakes if possible. Protein is necessary to help the body repair damaged liver tissue - as well as for basic everyday needs such as production of new blood cells.
6: Eat at least 5 servings a day of fruits and vegetables as they provide important vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Legumes and beans, and certain herbs and spices also contain abundant phytochemicals which behave like powerful antioxidants counteracting the harmful effects of destructive free radicals.
7: Drink lots of water! Squeeze some fresh lemon juice into a glass of water at least three times a a day. Add some grated ginger and a few slices of cucumber too. Staying hydrated is critical to flushing out toxins and the lemon juice naturally detoxifies the liver and provides vitamin C, another important antioxidant.
I suggest reading The Blood Sugar Solution by Dr. Mark Hyman as well as his book on UltraWellness. He writes about Functional Medicine - or food as medicine - and has an excellent overview of detoxifying your body. You can find Dr. Hyman's resources at http://drhyman.com/. You might appreciate his weekly e-newsletter as do I.
In future posts we'll discuss the role of antioxidants, herbs, immune system enhancers,vitamins, amino acids, minerals including iron and some natural interferon boosters for their beneficial effects on the liver and their role in supporting a healthy immune system. In the meantime check out http://www.hepcchallenge.org/index.htm for some excellent resources on Hep-C and diet. Be well-
All the best,
Always - Hep C Girl
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